Page 20 of The Refiner

So, go through this book, find your proof, and battle your denial.

I know this pregnancy is unexpected for both of us.

But it happened.

We can do this, Astor.

We can raise this child together.

All my love,

Piper

No, no, no. “Halle!” I yell, standing up and pacing around my office. I didn’t go home last night after leaving Keagan. I couldn’t, not after finding the book peeking out from her bag. I wasn’t trying to snoop. I was just getting the blanket to cover her when I saw it. A simple, leather-bound journal with my name on the front, tucked under her purse. A journal that utterly destroyed me.

“Halle!”

A dark head of hair, that is not Halle’s, pops into my office. “Vance and Halle aren’t here yet.” Duke, my younger brother, eyes me with concern. “And from what I see, you shouldn’t be here yet either.”

I can imagine I look a little insane at the moment. My hair is sticking up like I’ve been windsurfing. My eyes are bloodshot from the lack of sleep. But probably what sells the look of insanity is that I’m still wearing yesterday’s clothes. Crazy is not a good look on anyone. But for me, the levelheaded brother, it’s unheard of. I’m never out of control—not in front of an audience anyway.

“I’m fine,” I clip. “Just tell Halle I need to see her when she gets in.” I look at my watch and note it’s only 7:00 a.m. Halle won’t be here for another couple of hours.

Duke throws his head back, deep rumbling laughter filling the quiet office. “You really must be out of it.” He pushes inside my office, shoves the documents off my desk, and then sits as if I have no available chairs. “Newsflash, brother, I don’t fucking work for you. But as your brother, I’ll be happy to help pull that giant stick out of your ass.” He flashes me a wink. “You know, for company morale.”

I could hit him. I’m sure it would make me feel better.

“I’m not Vance. Don’t talk to me like I’m not in control.”

“Are you sure?” Duke’s gaze tracks to the journal. “You aren’t exactly screaming stable right now.”

I’ll lose my shit if I stay here any longer. “Tell Halle to call me.” I snatch the journal off my desk and head out. I can’t answer any questions until I have answers. And those answers can only be given by one person and she’s dying.

I’m halfway across the parking garage when I spot Halle coming in early.

“Astor? What are you doing here?” Vance helps Halle from the car, their gaze laser-focused on me.

Inhaling, I force a smile. The last thing I need is to draw more attention to myself. “I couldn’t sleep. Thought I would stop by and check my messages, but I couldn’t get into the computer system.” Not a lie. My password wouldn’t work earlier.

Halle grimaces. “You can thank your brother for that.” She shoves lightly at Vance’s shoulder. “He upgraded our system while you were gone.”

Of course, he did.

“Come on. I’ll give you all your new login information.” She flashes me a stern look. “But then you’re going to go home and rest. You look like shit.”

Vance grunts like he agrees, which I don’t acknowledge. I simply tip my chin and head back to the office. I don’t have the energy to explain or argue. I just need access to prove Piper wrong.

I’ve been staring at the same document for the past hour. No matter how many times I go over it, I get the same results.

The DNA is a match.

And Piper’s note next to the proof brings bile to my throat.

I’m sorry I had to run the DNA against the sample you provided for the incident with Rebekah, but I knew you would need proof. You needed to see I wasn’t lying.

Because my ex-wifehadlied to me.

But unlike last time, I am the father of Piper’s child. A secret she kept from her sister. No wonder Keagan hates me. My distrust of women kept her sister from sharing the joy of her pregnancy with the only family she had.

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